Category: Closings

The new issue of The Bollard includes an article on the closing of Mama’s CrowBar.

It might be easy to let a bar in a city full of them close without much acknowledgement, shrugging and muttering something like, “Oh well, guess that’s how business goes these days.” But Mama’s was not just a bar. This place had a significant impact on its rapidly changing neighborhood, on the landscape of craft beer on the peninsula, and on the community that gathered around its taps. And the CrowBar isn’t simply going out of business. Its closure is the culmination of a long and tangled legal battle between Henley and the building’s owners — which is a particularly painful way for a well-loved establishment to meet its demise.

Today is Mama’s official last day in business.

Update: the Press Herald published an article on Tuesday about Mama’s CrowBar.

According to reports from Chris Busby, the Press Herald and The Forecaster, Sangillo’s will be closing for good midnight this Saturday, after 62 years in business.

The 62-year-old bar on Hampshire Street could appeal the state liquor board’s decision, but 30-year-old owner Dana Sangillo said Monday that he has decided to close after last call early Sunday morning. He said he hopes someone will re-open it someday.

The Press Herald has confirmed that the Full Belly Deli has gone out of business.

After 28 years of serving overstuffed pastrami sandwiches, lokshen kugel and hot brisket dinners, Full Belly Deli, Portland’s only Jewish delicatessen, has closed its doors.

Owner David Rosen said the Brighton Avenue deli was a victim of the economy, rising food prices, and competition from the chain restaurants that have proliferated nearby as that part of the city, on the border of Westbrook, has developed in recent years.

Owner Charlie Bryon announced yesterday that due to the departure of some key staff he’s decided to close and sell The Salt Exchange.

With very short notice and based on the totality of our circumstances, I must close and sell The Salt Exchange Restaurant. It has been my sincere honor to serve the community of Portland and every guest that has graced our threshold. My time working with the very talented and supportive staff through every iteration of the restaurant has been a growth experience that I will always be grateful for.

He goes on to write,

The landscape of Portland is thickly populated by many good restaurants and I am very fortunate to have been counted among them, even if for just five years. I wish my peers the very best of luck and great fortune in their futures. To my guests I humbly thank you for your friendship, support, honesty, and kindness. I owe you my success and will look forward to seeing you soon. Cheers!

Maine Pie Line owner Briana Warner has announced that she’s closing the business as of November 8.

…After a fantastic run, the Maine Pie Line will be closing our doors permanently on November 8th. I can’t explain how much we have appreciated all of you as customers and supporters, but new exciting opportunities have opened up for me and I decided to close the company on a high note…

Update: Eater Maine has published an extended interview with Warner about her decision, MPL in general and her next job.

Urban Eye reports that Liquid M2 has gone out of business.

It seems Liquid M2 on Fore Street is the latest casualty in the green drink economy to go belly up this year. This “farm to bar” lounge has been locked for weeks, their telephone number is disconnected and the owner is MIA. Who would take a vacation in Vacationland during prime time? They have not sent out a social media signal since August 9th.

Portland & Rochester has announced that they’re closing their doors.

Hello to all our friends out there. Thank you all for a wonderful year, it’s been amazing serving you and going through the growth of our beautiful restaurant with you.

Portland & Rochester Pub will be open Today, tomorrow and possibly Thursday this week and then we will be closing our doors. Tegan & I really wanted to be able to run the Pub as well as our Bar Harbor Lobster Pound, but it is proving to be a little too much to handle them both.

Down Home Cookin’ on Preble Street has announced that today will be their last day in business. The owners are moving to Oregon and have sold the business “to a local person who has great plans for the space”.

The Bangor Daily News has published an update on the recent closing of El Rayo Cantina.

The Cantina, a bar counterpart to the more casual El Rayo Taqueria, opened in January 2012 on York Street. In the summertime, a sleek fire pit and Airstream trailer bar lent the spot a California vibe.

It closed after two-and-a-half years to make way for a future parking garage, said Dana. El Rayo Taqueria, which is seeking new peninsula space, will eventually meet the same fate.

Update: For additional reporting see the article posted by the Press Herald.